Bed cover holder



Aug. 1948- w. R. CURTIS 2,446,362

*7 BET: COVER HOLDER Filed March 31, 1944 x 7 5 Sheets-Sheet l IN VENTOR.

Wilbur 7?. Curtis ATTORNEYS Aug. 3, 1948. w, cu s 2,446,362

BED CQVER HOLDER Filed March 51, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 k'lla mum"IIIIIIA'II IIIIIIIII INVENIOR. WoZbU-r 7?. Cumizs g 1948- w. R. CURTIS,4

BED COVER HOLDER Filed March 51, 1944 s Sheets-Sheet 5 IN V EN TOR.

Wilbwf R Curtis ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 3, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE BED COVER HOLDER Wilbur It. Curtis, Fresno, Calif. ApplicationMarch 31, 1944, Serial No. 528,965 2 Claims. (01. -220) The inventionrelates to a bed construction, and more especially to a bed attachmentfor coverings therefor.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of an attachment ofthis character, wherein the same is adapted to be built into a bed orcrib, so that the coverings therefor can be readily and convenientlyheld in place, to avoid being disturbed by the occupant, and in thismanner eliminating the working of the coverings off such occupantunintentionally while within the bed.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an attachment ofthis character, wherein the same can be readily and easily operated forsecuring the covering in place and for the release thereof, as may berequired, the said attachment being self-adjustable, so as to firmlyhold the clothing or covering, irrespective of variance in thethicknesses thereof at different areas thereof in the spread of the sameover the bed.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an attachment ofthis character, wherein through the use thereof, it will not damage theclothing or coverings, and will assure the retention thereof in a neatand orderly arrangement upon the bed, as well as maintaining theoccupant fully protected against exposure.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of anattachment of this character, which is simple in construction,thoroughly reliable and efiicient in operation, strong and durable, thusrequiring minimum alterations in the construction of the bed or cribwhen installing such attachment. The invention is also novel inconstruction and arrangement, without detracting from the normalappearance of such bed or crib, and inexpensive to manufacture andinstall.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in thefeatures of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as willbe hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, which show the preferred and modified forms of construction ofthe invention, and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a crib showing the attachmentconstructed in accordance with the invention applied, and by full linesthe attachment is shown in position for holding the coverings, while bydotted lines, it is shown in releasing position.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1 lookingin the direction of the ar- IOWS.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary enlarged side elevation, partly broken away,showing details ofsuch attachment.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3 lookingin the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 3 lookingin the direction of the arrows.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of one of the hinge hangers of theattachment.

Figure '7 is a perspective view of a gear latch used with theattachment.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the bracket for the latch shown inFigure '7.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the latch spring.

Figure 10 is a perspective view of the rack bar fitting.

Figure 11 is a side view of a modified form of the attachment in usewith a bed.

Figure 12 is a perspective view of one of the clamping rails of thismodified form shown in Figure 11.

Figure 13 is a perspective view of one side rail of the bed shown inFigure 11.

Figure 14 is a perspective view of the rack gear shown in Figure 11.

Figure 15 is a perspective View of the se1f-adjusting gripper wire ofthe attachment.

Figure 16 is a perspective view of the rack bar.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views in the drawings.

Referring to the drawings in detail, particular- 1y Figures 1 to 10,respectively, A designates generally an infants crib, which is of anystandard construction, having vertical head and foot sections In and lI, respectively, these being joined at each side to a lower side rail l2from which rises a slatted guard section it, its top rail l4 havingconnection with the head and foot sections, as usual. Each guard sectionit may be of the fixed type or of the drop kind.

Immediately beneath each side rail l2 and coextensive therewith in alongitudinal direction is a vertically tilting clamp bar it, which atthe end thereof next to the head section ill is supported by ahinge-jointed hanger It, the innermost portion of which is securelydoweled in the rail l2, while the outermost portion is yieldably fittedin the bar by the association of a coiled tensioning spring H, thelatter being held in the said hanger by a pin l1 and acts against thesaid bar, as is clearly shown in Figure 3 of the drawings.

The other end of the bar [5 has fitted thereto an inverted substantiallyL-shaped fitting l8, it being accommodated in a clearance I9 therefor insaid bar, and coupled with this fitting I8 is a vertically disposedtoothed rack member 20, which slidably engages in a guideway 2! in therail l2, the member 20 being equipped with a tensioning spring 22 activeupon the bar [5. The rack member 2B is provided withupperand lower pins20 and 22'. The upper pin 20 limits the downward movement of the member20. The lower pin 22' retains the spring 22 on the member 20. The spring22 by reacting against the fitting, l8 and the pin 22 provides ayieldable connection for A obtaining flexibility of operation and forabsorbing any play that may occur between the rack member 29 and thefitting l8. On the rail IZ- 5 next to the rack member 20 is a bearing 23rotatably supporting a rack gear 24, which has its teeth meshing.withthe teeth of the said member 20, so that by rotating. the said gearthe latter'can be moved for shifting the bar to clamping or unclampingpositions with rela ion to the rail 12, these positionsbeingefiectedthrough the medium of the hinge-jointed hanger l6, and such bari5 is urged in close relationship to the rail l2'by thetensioningsprings. I'! and 22 counteringany resisting pressure againstthe said bar.

At the periphery of. the gear 24 in proper location thereon is a.combined actuator wing and keeper. 25 which. enables the manual turningof such gear, as well as the latching thereof in a fixed positionby ahand released locking bolt 25 tensioned by a spring 25' coiled about thebolt for forcingthe same and thereby the keeper toward the gear 24,slidably supported in a mountingv 27' on. the rail 12. The gear 24 islatched in a fixed position by this bolt 25, when such gear. has movedthe rack member 20 to bring the bar (5 into a clampingposition relativeto the rail l2,-.as is shown in Figure 3 of the drawings.

rovided in the confronting faces of the rail I 2 and bar [5 areco-extensive companion channels or grooves 21 and 28, respectively, theformer being an ogee form of channel or groove, and the latter asubstantially rectangular shaped groove or channel, and are adapted toregister with each other. Seated within the channel or groove 28' andadapted to interfit the groove or channel 27 is i an. inherently springyweltered shaped gripping; wire 29, having its ends anchored at 30 inthear. IS, the wire 29 being full length with the grooves or channels.The .wires. 29at opposite sides of the crib A resiliently grip theclothing or coverings when the latter are placed between the siderailsl2 and bars l5, and the latter are brought to clamping position withrelation to the said rails 'I 2. In this manner the clothing orcoverings will be firmly and securely held over an occupant of the crib,without any chance of the accidental working of the said clothing orcoverings from such occupant within the crib.

The resiliency of the wires 29,, and the tensioning qualities of thesprings i7 and 22 assure the finm gripping of the clothing or coverings32, withoutrespect to any variance in thicknesses at different areasthereof in the spread or lay thereof when worn by the crib.

In Figures 11 to 16 ofthe drawings there is used by grown-up occupants.

shown a slight modification of the invention, wherein each clamping bar33 is arranged above the side rail 34, while the toothed rack member 35depends therefrom through the side rail to engage with the rack gear 36,which is fitted to the under side of the said rail 34 next thereto, themember 35 being at one end of the bar adjacent to the foot section 31 ofa bed 38, while the hingejointed hanger 39. is atthe other endof the bar33 next? to theh'ead section lfl ofsuch bed. The bed 38 is devoid ofside guards, in that it is to be In this modified form of construction,the tensioning springs heretoforeset forth are dispensed with, and thegripping: wires: associated therewith.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination with a bed having stationary side rails, clampingbars, means yieldingly pivoting one end of each bar to a correspondingside rail, toothedrack members, means securing one ofthe toothedrackmemb'ers'to'the otherfend of each of the clamping bars; atoothedgear, means pivotally mounting the toothed? gear: on eachside-rail and'meshin'g, .witlreach rack member, an'd'locking meansmounted'on'each siderail and engaging the toothed gear] thereonfor'locking, the gear against'rotation thereof.

2. In a bed, a stationary'side bar provided with a groovelengthwisethereof; a clampingjb'ar'provided with a groovelengthwisethereon, a resilient ,undulated' wire member. clamping bar grooveandladapted'to. fit? into said stationary side bar: groove, a. linkpivotally secured to'oneof. said, bars and slidable throughthe other'ofsaid. bars, link and the bar through which'it i'sv slidable, whereby oneof said bars maybe, moved relatively tothe other of said bars, arack'means. pivotally. secured to oneof said'bars and extending.through.

the other of said. bars, a pinion, mounting, means for rotatably'supporting. the pinionon the bar through which mountingmeans'engagementwith said rack means whereby, rotae tion' of said 'pini'onwillcause swinging ,movement of one bar relative to'thfe. other and'locki'ngmeans mounted on said sidebar and engagingzsaid pinion for locking thepinion .against rotation thereofl WILBURT R.. CURTIS;

REFERENCES CITED" The following references. -are,.-'of. record} inf-the:

Number Name Date? 87,742 Whitner Mani): 18.69 323,265" Bohaker July28,1885: 352,497. Streetetah Nov. 9,1886 494,560 Floyd; A1314, 1893552,253 Maher Dec, 31,1895 751,010. Pyle .Feb. 2,1 9.04 811,492.. FairJan, 30,1306 864,291 Carpenter Aug-27, 1907' 974,747 Carr- Nov..1,';1910

1,227,399 DeW'endt May 22;,1917

1,659,519, Dilatush Fem-"14 1923? 1,900,478. Zimmerman Mar. 7,1933

(B add ck Sept-1 3;. 193.8:-

anchored in said resilient; means between saidthe rackymeans extends,said. holding, said. pinion. in meshing.

